Manchester City faced an unexpected twist in their Champions League clash against Sparta Prague when VAR intervened to disallow what seemed like a second goal by Nathan Ake.
The match began with a bang as Phil Foden put City ahead within the first three minutes, sneaking a shot past the opposing goalkeeper. However, despite the promising start, the Blues struggled to extend their lead, leaving Pep Guardiola visibly frustrated on the sidelines.
Ake thought he had scored the crucial second goal early in the second half, pushing the ball in from close range. Celebrations erupted among the City players, but VAR had other plans. After a thorough review, it was determined that Ake had handled the ball before scoring. Although his hand was near his body and the contact seemed unintentional, recent rule changes dictate that any handball in the lead-up to a goal disqualifies the score.
However, City quickly found their rhythm again. Just before the hour mark, Savinho delivered a precise cross to Erling Haaland, who executed a stunning acrobatic backheel to score, leaving goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen helpless. Not long after, John Stones made it three with a well-placed header into the corner of the net.
Haaland added another goal shortly thereafter, showcasing his relentless scoring prowess. With this victory, City now sits on seven points in the Champions League group stage, positioning themselves strongly for a spot in the knockout rounds of the revamped tournament.
